Air conditioner



Jan. 15, 1946. J. A. PAAscHl-z AIR*CONDITIONER Filed May 31.v 1945 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. l', 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE Am coNnrrroNEn Jens A. Paasche, Chicago, Ill'. Application May 31, 1943, Serial No'. 489,211

3 Clarins. (ci. 18s- 1i This invention relates to air-conditioners and more particularly to devices for cleaning and removing substantially all moisture from air before it is delivered under pressure to air operated devices such as sprayers and the like.

In the use of air-brushes and the like, whereby paint or. similar material is atomized for purposes of application to a :work surface, compressed air is' directed against a streamof paint or the like discharged from a restricted orifice. Also in using air-drills, air-hammers, air-rubbing machines, et cetera, compressed air is used as an impellin'g medium. 'It is of the utmost importance that air so used must be free from foreign matter such as dust particles and the like and must also be ture so collected may be withdrawn at the bottom of the receptacle and the moisture-free air under pressure discharged from the top of the container.

Still more specifically the invention contemplates a device as set forth above wherein moisture separated from the air and collected at the bottom of a receptacle may be automatically withdrawn from the receptacle.

The present invention also contemplates improved, novel means within the aforesaid receptacle which will expedite the removal of moisture from air under pressure directed into said receptacle.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with -the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device which is representative of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of- Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 isa central vertical sectional view of the lower extremity of the air receiving receptacle to more clearly illustrate the structural characteristics of the diaphragm operated valve therein, said valve being shown in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 4 disclosing the diaphragm displaced downwardly so as to open the aforesaid valve; and' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the perforated cylinder detached from the receptacle.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures, it will be seen that one embodiment of the invention resides in a conditioner or separator designated generally by the numeral Ill. This device IIl comprises a cylindrical receptacle I2 having a cap I4 covering the upper portion thereof and a cap or closure I6 for closing the lower extremity thereof. The cap I4 is provided with a nipple I8 adapted to receive an air conducting conduit or pipe 20. A-suitable screen 22 positioned within a central aperture of the nipple I8 serves to prevent foreign particles from being introduced within the upper extremity of the cylinder or housing I2 when air under pressure is directed by the conduit 20 into said housing.

Air under pressure introduced within the upper `extremity of the cylindrical housing I2 passes downwardly through a restricted annular area. 24 which is presented between the inner surface of` the housing I2 and the outer surface. of a cylindrical member 26. This cylindrical member or skirt 26 depends from the margin of a closure disc 23 which in turn is centrally secured to the lower extremity of a conduit 3D. The upper extremity of the conduit 30 is secured within the cap I4. The housing I2 and skirt 26 are preferably metallic to expedite the condensation of, moisture which may be present within the air passing downwardly through the annular area or passage 24.

the novel Particular attention is directed to be fabriperforated shell 32. This shell32 may cated from expanded metal bent into cylindrical f form. I prefer to coat the expanded metal shell 32 with Wool flock indicated by the stippling in the drawing. This wool flock materially increases the external area of the member 32, thereby increasing' the volume of accumulated water.

When the device 32 isv provided with a metal sur-y face free from the wool flock, the volume of accumulated water is materially less due to the re-l duction in surface area in contact with the moisture laden air. It will be noted that the perforated member 32 extends substantially throughout the annular area 24 and depends a considerable vdistance below said annular area. which condenses or separates out within the receptacle I2 ultimately accumulates` at thebot-l l tom of said receptacle.

At the bottom of the receptacle is a valve de-v vice designated generally by the numeral .34. v This valve device serves to control the withdrawal of accumulated-water when the level ofthe column of water in the. receptacle I2 reaches va given point., In Figs. 2 and 4 the valve device 34 is shown in its closed position. This valve device includes a iiexible diaphragm 36 which is clamped in position along its periphery between 4 a vsleeve 38and the closure I6 by a threadedV collar 40.

The central portion of the diaphragm 36 is apertured to receive a cup 42 whichis .clamped to Water the diaphragm by an internally threaded cap 44.

A valve seat 46 of suitable exible material such urge the valve seat 46 upwardly into engagement with the lower extremity of a valve member `50. This valve member 60 is provided with an elongated aperture 52 which communicates at its upper extremity with a passage 64 provided within a member 56 projecting inwardly from and formed integral with the sleeve 38. The valve4 member 50 makes a threaded connection with and depends from the member or projection 56, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A coupling 68 is secured in communicating relation with the passage 54, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

The weight of the water accumulated within the receptacle i2 will not be suicient to ex the diaphragm 36 downwardly until this weight is sufficient to overcome the action of the coiled spring 48. When this amount of water has accumulated the diaphragm 36 moves downwardly' to the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby establishing communication between the area within the receptacle I2 and the discharge coupling 58. Thus, when the diaphragm .36 occupies the position shown in Fig. 5, the resilient valve seat 46 is shifted from the lower extremity of the member 5U, thereby permitting the flow of water through the passages 52 and 54 into the discharge coupling 58. In practice, it is found convenient to direct the water from the coupling 58 into a suitable receptacle 60 through a'conduit 62, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In this connection it will be noted that the central portion of the closure i6 is embossed and internally threaded for the purpose of receiving a complementary threaded rod (not shown) to support the separator in any desired position.

In order to maintain equal pressure conditions on opposite sides of the diaphragm 36, a vent is provided in the form of a tube 64 which extends upwardly from the bottom of the receptacle to a point which would be well above the maximum height or level to which the accumulated water would rise in the receptacle. The lower extremity of this tube 64 communicates through an aperture 66 with the area beneath the diaphragmv 36. In this way air pressure conditions on opposite sides of the diaphragm are equalized. If some venting means were not provided, the pressure of the air rather than the pressure of the water within the receptacle would open the valve device 34.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the l air under pressure which ultimately passes upwardly through the interior of the cylindrical member 26 is substantially free of moisture and passes outwardly through the conduit 30 into an air regulator device designated generally by the numeral 68. For a clear understanding of the present invention, a detailed description of the air regulator device 68 is not essential. It will suice to say that this device 68 has associated therewith suitable pressure gauges 10 and 12, one serving to indicate the intake pressure and the other serving to indicate the pressure of the air in outlet conduits 14 and 16.

` Air conditioning devices constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention have proved very successful in the field under moved from air before delivery to air-operated devices such as air-tools and the like. The-increase in air-contacting area provided bythe perfoi-ated cylinder` coated with wool flock or granules materially enhances the separation of moisture from the air stream. The automatic control of the :duid level in the -bottom of the cylindrical receptacle materially contributes to the eilicient functioning of the device. This control valve mechanism is of extremely simple. construction and is positive in operation. In fact, the device forming the subject matter of the present invention is composed of a minimum number of constituent elements, is relatively simple in construction and is capable of being produced by the practice of conventional machine shop methods. It will also be apparent from the foregoing that the conditioner or separator disclosed herein is not only of simple and durable construction but is capable of being economically manufactured.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the speciiic details of construction disclosed herein but is capable of other modiiications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A conditioner for an aeriform substance Yunder pressure including a vertical cylindrical metal receptacle, inlet and outlet means arranged adjacent the upper portion of said receptacle, a vertical cylindrical metal baille member arranged within said receptacle so as-to be interposed between said inlet and said outlet means and to provide a narrow elongated passage within said receptacle for said aeriform substance, and an expanded metal mesh cylindrical member arranged within said elongated passage in spaced relation to the' outer walls thereof, said metal 4g mesh member being coated with wool flock to expedite the separation of moisture from said aeriform substance in said narrow passage.

2. A conditioner for accommodating an aeriform substance under pressure including a vertical cylindrical receptacle, inlet and outlet means positioned at the upper portion of said receptacle, cylindrical means within the receptacle cooperating witlnn the inner periphery thereof to provide an elongated annular passage through which the aeriform substance under pressure from said inlet means may -b'e directed downwardly within the receptacle, and a sheet Inaterial member of cylindrical shape arranged within said elongated annular passage adjacent the outer surface of said cylindrical means, said sheet material member being of perforated expanded metal coated with a finely divided nbrous material to expedite the separation of moisture from the aerform substance moving downwardly within said annular passage.

3. A conditioner for an aeriform substance under pressure, including in combination a vertical cylindrical metal receptacle, inlet and outlet means adjacent the upper portion of said receptacle, a vertical cylindrical metal bale member arranged within said receptacle interposed .between said inlet and outlet means, forming a narrow elongated passage with said re- Y ceptacle, and an expanded metal mesh cylindrimost severe operating conditions. In fact, by emplaying the device disclosed herein very nearly one hundred per cent of the' moisture has been .re- 

